The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-08-26
CUBA.

West Indian group, that sts size is about
the same as our own country, and its
staple products arc sugar, coffee, ar to-
bacco. Its prosperity depends entirely
upon the last named Industry, for the de
preclatlon OF sugar threatens to make its
export by no means profitable
Travellers speak in glowing terms Of
the beauty of the country, but fEe finest
view is gained from the sea The nor
thern shore OF Oaba Is lined with hills,
whose iower slopes are dotted with white
houses, which extend, without any inter
vening beach oE- sand, to the waters edge.
The Moro Castle, ut the entrance OF
Havana Harbor, appears like a mass OF
dun-coioredToCk, tower and battlcmcnt
so mingled that the eve can scarcely dis
ungu'sh which l. castle and which is
crag. From its summit Rgsts the Spanish
flag, blood red and gold. In front, stand
ing N the sea like a sentinel on guard II
the Moro lighthouse
Havana i the principal town Of Cuba
and possesses - fine harbor, which is al
ways crowded with vessels Of all C-uIiI-
tries, from the British ironclad to tIs-
small native skifS with their latcrn saisS.
on which is often seen 4 full-l-ngth ~
presentation Of sun CriStobIl, the patron
saint OF Havana.
The view of the town from the haTDor
II most piCturesqUc-the quay Swarrring
With sunbuTnt natives in nightcar,S OF
scarlet, yellow, and striped, from pnder
which their dark eyes glcam xs.udv
sashes tied round their lOins, b1r.I,ggrd
and bare-arIncd, with shirts thrown open
atNt necks, all talking. ge-ticsI.atinc
and amicable; IN the backgroHT the
gray, crumhling baSts1ls is,rminy y strong
contrast 10 the houses, which are F,tintcd,
IN Cuban fashion, all the culors Of the
rainbow.
Havana is I splendid and wealthy city,
but 10y no means ! model ''nc. Its
streets are dirty, tortuous, and marrow.
though the Earrowness l., in -sne WAYS.
an advantage. rs IL tends to make the.
streets more shady. The accommodation
Of the town is poor. Augustus Sala de
Clares thSt q Is worse off for hotels than
any other city in the civilized world. II
has hecn said tnat in no other city IL liv-
NJ so costly, and the tr.lde>nun certainly
charge mo-st cNOrbItant prict-S- They have
evidently borrowed their buSiltrs habits
from Oriental lands, for however small
the purchase, they expect D be beaten
down, always anticipating s tusScl OVER
the prico- IL j. very unusual in Cuba To
put the name oftbe proprietor 81 a shSys
over the entrance; q sign being used
not pictorial. ~ in England and Amcric=t,
but an inscription implying some ethicst,
allusion- such ~ Ia RectI'ud,' La In
tcsridad Ia Probidod," la Conscicn-
cia;n isvorite sign was aft xcd to = shop
for selling lucifer matches - la ENplo-
sion"
Fruft is very plentiful, nd nf fine quail
ity, M Cuba Oranges AN. - abundant
~ acOrnS IN a British forest That thcy
have -rme monetary valut. We may know
from Il fact that al nearly every street
corner may be- found an orIugc-vendOr,
but it's intinItcSimal and in exchange
Tor the smallest coin OF the country.
hands, pockets, and hat too will bo filled
with the golden fruit.
Thoy are never charged for in the hotel
bill, and dozen will be brought To the
traveller IL he but Compla n of thirst. 4
Cuban going To a bull-fght, generally
takes 4 store in 4 hand kerchief, from
which he may refresh h mself and have
= etsck OF missiles ready to throw at \
Cowsrily bull or an unfor innate toreadOre.
In TIE Spanish dictionary there Is posi-
tivcly a verb, ''to pclt with oranges"
One of the pcculiaritits Of Cuba il the
volmte, an equipage only to be found in
this island, and possessing the easiest and
mos- delightfully."- celebrating motion.
II ID 4 kind Of high gig with a very small
body, hung on immense springs, sur
nlOunted by n large hoOd. Stretched
Of sGme dark material &c protect the ewes
of the occupant from the glaring sun.
The wheels are immense, and the shafts
50 exceedingly long tina there i n great
distance between the vehicle and the
horse. To keep - volAEte il Al sign Of re-
sPeotabiity, and the luxury which. next
20 cigar and bull-fe1It, is dearest to the
CulEn heart.
The consumption of trbacco in Cuba Is
almsst incredible. Every man, woman,
and child il addicted To smoking. and
cigars play quite an important part in
Cuban hospitality. Mr.. BallOu says:
q At the t1hl,s fhotS Of ;n hotel il i not
unusual to- see a Cuban take few whitIs
OF cigarette between the several courses,
and lights are burning close at hand TO
enable him to do 30. n party Of gentle
men sSrc invited to dine together. th, host
80 orders II that a packet OF the finest
cigarettes II frequently passed TO his
guests, ,yNgith a lighted taper, in the course
of the meal, and ~ its close some favorite
brand Of the more substantial cigar il
furnished tu all. Tobacco l. consumed I
on every occasion. in the Ccuncil-chambcr. i
the court, NJ funerals IA the domestic !
circles, az fc.tStS. and On the outdoor 7
drives The slave and his master, the I
maid anti hGr mistress, boy and man all, /
all smoke"
The greatest cigar factory of Cuba Is 4
hat known ~ the CahaHa. but IL II very 1
iiiiicUlt To get a genuine "Csbana' cigar .
IA Cuba, for they are - largely exported. /
England takes 4 larger percentage than I
INV other country, California comes next.
The cigarcttcsO Oi Ia HonEtiez are famous, I
md certainly tle prOprictGrS seem con-
,Cious III their merits, Tor sSn the little
'hromo-!ithoGrIPhcd wrapper which sur
-Ounds each bundle 81 cigarettes Won NAV
cad the motto. no hsrhos 1H, i,fSif-
drG1, My works shal! justify me
Upon nlc sugar and tobAccn plantations
ind in the cigar factories mann Chinese
Irr employed. There are ever two
hundred thousand 4of these coolies in
'uba, who take the place of tlsr slaves.
mi like many other substitutes. are more
IIfhcult To- manage and more troublesome /
han the original artitfc The coolies in
'uba DO Ba. maiHtfin their national
'cCulIarItics IN 20 marked n DEERE. a.
hey 10 in Cx-ifornia and in the United
tatc-; they frequently let their hair
TOW, adopt tl,e West Indian hahiimcnts.
How themselves to be- Lqptizr,i and as
umr Christian names.
Slavery j. almost abOliSli.d 4 in The island.
y Il recent cdict. which each wear frees
n. slave out II every four. { hc wear ISIS
III sce the last of slavery in Cuba. Then.
~ a.~sy 10000 Tree nclru,-S - the island
nd IN the 18th uf July, lS>,i. Sac Spanish
arliausent authorized the Ossrcrnmcut
, irte soon a. Iss>~iblc 2G.uyJ Cuban
aveS N kO still remained under the pro
.'tion Of their masters The President
4 the Chamber of Deputies. in con-
ratulatins Parliament. declared amidst
bud apfiae-e, that tliS resolution was
he crowninS Of the glorious work Oi the
bOlitiOn II slavery.